Critically Endangered Puerto Rican Parrots on Exhibit at Zoo

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

by Lincoln Park Zoo

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Conservation & Science

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For more than a decade, Lincoln Park Zoo has been working to ensure the survival of the critically endangered Puerto Rican parrot using science-based methodology. For the first time, Puerto Rican parrots now reside outside of the island and will serve as conservation ambassadors for the Puerto Rican Parrot Recovery Program, a multi-partner effort to save the species from extinction. Due to its commitment to this species, two ambassador birds are now thriving at Lincoln Park Zoo.

Two male birds, ages five and six, arrived in October from the Iguaca Aviary in El Yunque National Forest. After a quarantine and acclimation period, during which animal care and veterinary staff closely monitored their health and behavior, the pair is now visible to the public in the Ecosystem exhibit at Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House.

“These birds represent the conservation of one of the most endangered bird species in the world,” says Hope B. McCormick Curator of Birds Sunny Nelson. “We hope they raise awareness of the collaborative efforts of Lincoln Park Zoo, USFWS and the Puerto Rico Natural and Environmental Resources Department to save this iconic species and engage guests in conversation about both the positive and negative impacts of human-wildlife interaction.”

After the wild population of Puerto Rican parrots fell to about 24 birds in 1967 due to poaching, habitat loss, hurricanes and competition for nesting cavities, USFWS initiated the Puerto Rican Parrot Recovery Program. Beginning captive breeding with 13 parrots in 1973 the program has been successful in bolstering the population to about 700 birds at two aviaries and three wild-release sites in Puerto Rico.

Lincoln Park Zoo’s Alexander Center for Applied Population Biology began providing population analysis support for the recovery program in 2007. Since then, the zoo’s Population Management Center (PMC), which also supports population management within the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), has assumed an important role in ensuring the growth, health, genetic diversity and longevity of the Puerto Rican parrot population.

Lincoln Park Zoo scientists use demographic and genetic analyses to help aviary managers determine which parrots to pair in order to maintain the highest level of genetic diversity within the population. Specialized software programs, developed by zoo scientists, help aviaries make these decisions and also maintain precise records of individuals’ life histories from birth to eventual release into the wild.

“We overcame the challenge of such a small, genetically-vulnerable founder population with precise scientific match-making methods,” says Director of the Population Management Center, Sarah Long. “The now 600-bird population will continue to grow while retaining as much genetic and demographic diversity as possible.”

The release of the aviary-bred parrots into the wild is also a sophisticated scientific process. Researchers monitor hatches and chick development with infrared cameras inside nests. They also use radio telemetry to follow birds for several months after release to determine survival rates and habitat preferences.

Just as developing relationships between individual Puerto Rican parrots increases the survival probability of the species, so too does collaboration between major conservation organizations increase the success rate of the program.

“Working together, sharing knowledge and learning from others has been essential to the success of the Puerto Rican Parrot Recovery Program,” says Wildlife Biologist/Aviculturist/Aviary Operations Coordinator of USFWS Jafet Vélez-Valentin. “We’re excited to continue our Puerto Rican parrot conservation efforts with Lincoln Park Zoo in a new capacity: state-side public awareness and education.”

Indigenous to Puerto Rico and commonly referred to as “iguacas” due to their raucous call, Puerto Rican parrots are a cultural icon. As such, the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture and Lincoln Park Zoo hosted a free family event at the museum in Humboldt Park on Earth Day, Saturday, April 22, celebrating the arrival of two Puerto Rican parrots and the success of the Puerto Rican Parrot Recovery Program to date.

Lincoln Park Zoo’s Sunny Nelson and Sarah Long spoke at the event along with Vélez-Valentín. This event followed a sold-out April 20 Wine & Wildlife lecture at Café Brauer.

Puerto Rican parrots display vibrant green plumage, blue primary feathers and red crown (forehead) coloration. They rely on seeds, nuts, bark and some nectar sourced from the tropical and subtropical rainforest canopy. Bonded pairs breed during the dry season (January to July) in previously excavated nest cavities. Clutches typically include two to four chicks that fledge at 60 to 65 days of age.